TRIAL OF SUSPECT IN DEATH OF OFFICER WRAPS UP

Prosecutor: Police walked into ambush

That’s all it would have taken for probationer Alex Charfauros to prevent a group of San Diego police officers from walking into an ambush at a southeastern San Diego apartment complex, a prosecutor argued Monday.

And that’s all that was needed to prevent the series of events that led to the death of Officer Christopher Wilson, who was shot in the head the night of Oct. 27, 2010.

“Anything would have sufficed — ‘Don’t,’ ‘Stop,’ ‘Wait,’ ” said Deputy District Attorney Michael Runyon during his closing argument in San Diego Superior Court. “If he had uttered any of them, Officer Wilson would have been with us today.”

Charfauros, 29, is facing murder and other felony charges in connection with the veteran officer’s death. His trial began last month.

Prosecutors concede that it was another man, fugitive Holim Lee, who fired the shot that killed Wilson. Charfauros had already been removed from the apartment before the shootout began.

But Runyon argued that the defendant — an accused drug dealer and felon — is legally liable for killing Wilson and trying to kill other officers with him that night. The prosecutor told the jury that Charfauros set them up by lying about whether any people or guns were inside that apartment after he had been detained.

“He’s aware of what he’s sending them to,” Runyon said. “He knows what is waiting for them upstairs.”

Defense lawyer David Berman is expected to give his closing argument today. He has said previously that investigators lack the evidence, even nearly three years after the incident, to prove that Charfauros is guilty of murder.

According to the testimony presented in trial, U.S. marshals and county probation officers went to the apartment on South Meadowbrook Drive near Paradise Valley Road after 10 p.m. to check on Charfauros, and to look for information that could lead them to Lee.

As they approached the apartment door, someone opened it and slammed it shut again. Moments later, a person tried to escape through a bedroom window but was stopped by a probation officer.

Charfauros was taken into custody soon afterward.

San Diego police were called to assist and several officers, including Wilson, asked Charfauros repeatedly whether any people, guns or drugs were in the apartment.

He responded: “No,” and “I don’t know.”

When police kicked in the door to a second bedroom, they were met with gunfire. Wilson, 50, was mortally wounded.

During his closing argument, Runyon showed a video taken with an infrared camera that showed the officers carrying Wilson out of the apartment. The images brought tears to the eyes of some of the investigators seated in the courtroom audience.

The prosecutor showed the jury several other photos and videos, which he said were evidence of Charfauros’ membership in a criminal street gang, his friendship with roommates Lee and Lucky Xayasene, and his knowledge about the guns and drugs in the residence.

More than 80 grams of methamphetamine was recovered from the apartment, along with four handguns, a shotgun and more than 300 rounds of ammunition, Runyon said.

Also found inside the apartment were the bodies of Lee and his girlfriend, Xayasene, both of whom died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Patrick Luangrath, 22, and Melissa Ortiz, 24, who were in the apartment’s west bedroom, surrendered to police and were charged with murder and other charges. They are expected to be tried separately.